Read the May 2024 Newsletter from the Delaware Valley Veterans Consortium, which serves member organizations by providing information to share with the Veterans they serve. Do you have news to share or upcoming events for the June 2024 newsletter and beyond? Please share! This newsletter is published monthly as part of DVVC’s efforts to connect, collaborate, and communicate in service to Veterans throughout our region.
Send your updates and questions to dvvcinfo@gmail.com
Member Organizations: To submit articles to the newsletter, please email Ashley Griffiths agriffiths@gc-habitat.org by the 25th of the month with your news.
To submit news to DVVC social media sites, please email Lynne Williams at director@greatcareersphl.org with “For DVVC Social Media” in the subject line.
Let us know how we can help!
SOCIAL MEDIA
In addition to the newsletter, the DVVC shares news and upcoming events on social media. Member organizations can follow our social media platforms to receive updates and share information about your organization’s news and events. Please engage on the posts and repost or share.
- LinkedIn Company Page – click on the bell at the top right and choose All New Posts
- LinkedIn Group
- LinkedIn Hashtag – in the search bar at the top left, type #dvvcorg and click follow
- Facebook Page
NEWS FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
May is a month of renewal and a month of remembrance. As trees become greener and flowers bloom, I know many of our member organizations will be reflecting on and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
For organizations like ours, dedicated to supporting veterans and their families, this day holds profound significance, and many organizations are holding events to honor Memorial Day. Read on and check in with fellow members to find out about events happening within our consortium network.
And save the date: Thursday, May 23rd, we’ll be holding a Town Hall, focusing on the major changes and eligibility expansion of the PACT Act. More information on the event and how to register is below. As we recently changed the way folks register for our programs, please let us know if you run into any trouble: dvvcinfo@gmail.com.
As always, thank you for everything you do, personally and professionally, to serve veterans in our communities.
With gratitude and respect,
Ashley Griffiths
Executive Director, GC Habitat for Humanity
DVVC Town Hall – PACT Act Expansion
Jacqueline Hinker, Public Affairs/Outreach Program Manager with the VA, will be presenting PACT Act Section 103, Expansion of VA health care.
This expanded eligibility is connecting Veterans that may have been previously unable to utilize VA care. This is also mission critical information for current National Guard and reservists deploying, or those who have previous deployments and have not yet connected with the VA.
This Town Hall will cover:
- Elimination of phased eligibility approach as of March 5, 2024
- New eligibility locations
- Missions in support that a
- Presumptive illnesses added due to PACT Act legislation.
- Toxic exposures during active and non-active duty
- Toxic Exposure Screening
- New 10-10EZR and 10-10EZR Enrollment Application and Updated Income Form
WHEN:
Thursday, May 23, 2024, 1-2:30pm
WHERE:
Virtual only – link will be sent in confirmation email after registering (please keep handy)
Jacqueline Hinker is a highly accomplished and purposeful professional with a profound connection to the military community. As the daughter of a Korean War Combat Veteran and Purple Heart recipient and spouse to an Iraq War Combat Veteran, she brings a unique perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those who have served. She has navigated the VA health care system as a family member for decades. As the proud parent of and Airmen she also focuses her attention to educating and supporting families of those who have served and continue to serve.
With a career dedicated to serving veterans and their families, Jacqui has made significant contributions as a Veterans Community Outreach Specialist at the Wilmington VA Medical Center in Delaware. From April 2017 to July 2023, she played a pivotal role in planning and organizing community and educational events for the Public Affairs Office. Her efforts were instrumental in creating impactful presentations that not only enhanced VA service education but also facilitated access to crucial programs, motivating veterans to enroll in vital services. Her work with New Jersey National Guard Leadership has led to monthly Physical Health Assessments engagement, Medical Hold Unit outreach, monthly drill enrollment and education on the 177th Fighter Wing. These outreach efforts have led to thousands of engagements and connections to VA health care, mental health care and service-connected claims filing opportunities.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions and leadership, Jacqui transitioned to the role of VISN 4 Public Affairs/Outreach Program Manager- Eastern Market, in July 2023, where she continues to make a positive impact on the lives of veterans and their families. In this role, she oversees public affairs and outreach initiatives, managing programs that aim to effectively communicate the VA’s mission and services with Public Affairs officers and collateral outreach personnel at five VA Medical Centers. The eastern market encompasses the Wilmington VA Medical Center (VAMC), Philadelphia VAMC, Coatesville VAMC, Lebanon VAMC, and Wilkes Barre VAMC.
Jacqui’s commitment to community engagement is evident in her focus on mission-critical issues such as PACT Act communications. Her exceptional communication skills, advocacy, interpersonal relations, networking, strategic event planning, and problem-solving abilities have consistently enabled success in challenging environments. Drawing on her years of experience in radio broadcasting, Jacqui skillfully leverages her talent to influence audiences, market services, foster coalitions, and drive community outreach engagements. She understands the power of storytelling and uses it to connect with diverse audiences, creating a bridge between the VA and the community it serves.
In addition to her professional achievements, Jacqui takes pride in her roles as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a friend. Her personal and professional life reflects a dedication to service, advocacy, and fostering a strong community bond for the well-being of veterans and their families.
ADVOCACY ALERT!
Oregon Supreme Court case regarding the state’s potential criminalization of people experiencing homelessness:
Since homelessness affects all people, including veterans, we are keeping an eye on this court case.
It’s time for Veterans and their caregivers to just take a breath!
Experience different avenues of mindfulness including: Forest Bathing, Yoga & a Mala Bead workshop. Refreshments will be served and tours of the historic Stenton property provided by the National Society of Colonial Dames.
Opening remarks by BG (PA Ret) Maureen Hopkins Weigl DAG-VA.
Don’t miss out on this chance to prioritize your well-being and mental health. Reserve your spot now and treat yourself to a day of self-care and relaxation!
The VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP) Veteran Community Advisory Board (VCAB) is hosting its annual town hall on May 14th at 10am in the CMCVAMC Multi-Purpose Room on the 3rd floor.
The theme is Genomics, Health Equity and You, and topics such as genetics testing, the Million Veteran Program, and inequities and myths in genomics medicine and research will be discussed.
It is open to the public and meant for veterans and the community. It is an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about genetic research and implementation within VA. Members of DVVC may find it useful as well as this arena impacts mental health, long-term care, cancer treatment, and many others.
Over the past several years, the Joint Base McGuire/Dix/Lakehurst (JBMDL) has hosted an Event referred to as the Joint Retiree Appreciation Day (JRAD). This Event has occurred every year since 2013 except for the three years when everyone was challenged by COVID.
The Event draws Military Retirees from New Jersey, Southern New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware to the JBMDL to obtain information about of variety of benefits and services available to them. Such benefits and services span the Federal, State and Local levels.
Benefits at the Federal level would be Social Security, Health benefits from the VA, Tricare and the Joint Base, and various Joint Base services. Services at the state Level primarily come from the State’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
And local services would involve the various Veteran Service Organizations such as the American Legion and VFW plus other Organizations such as Samaritan, Catholic Charities, and Volunteers Of America (VOA). All of the Organizations which attend are provided with tables and are spread among three separate rooms where information can be shared with the Retirees.
And Events have drawn upwards of several hundred Retirees and their families to obtain information on benefits. The event is held at the Timmerman Theater on the Dix side of the Joint Base. Ample parking is available to accommodate the attendees.
The event kicks off at 0830 hrs. with the singing of the National Anthem, the Posting of the Colors, and other formalities. The Formal Program will begin at 0900 hrs. with a Welcome from a representative of the Joint Base, then the Keynote Speaker, followed by presentations from individuals sharing information on Veterans Health and Service benefits plus a Legislative Update. The Formal program will end at approximately 1100 hrs. when attendees will be given the opportunity to visit the Resource tables and/or enjoy Lunch at the Post Consolidated Mess.
HIRE VETERANS MEDALLION AWARD 2024
The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2017 (HIRE Vets Act or the Act), requires the Secretary of Labor to establish a program, by rule, that recognizes employer efforts to recruit, employ, and retain veterans. Employer-applicants meeting criteria established in the rule will receive a “HIRE Vets Medallion Award.”
As described in the Act, there are different awards for large employers (500-plus employees), medium employers (51-499 employees), and small employers (50 or fewer employees). For each award, the employer must satisfy a set of criteria. Verification of these criteria includes a self-attestation by the applicant and a check for violations of veteran related DOL labor laws by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Criteria for recognition vary by level (platinum or gold) and employer size (large, medium, and small). However, the criteria for most of the awards are based upon the following measures:
- The percentage of new hires during the previous year are veterans.
- Percentage of veteran employees retained for a period of at least 12 months.
- The percentage of employees who are veterans.
- Provision of an employee veteran organization or resource group to assist new veteran employees with integration, including coaching and mentoring.
- Provision of programs to enhance the leadership skills of veteran employees during their employment.
- Employment of a dedicated human resources professional or initiatives to support hiring, training, and retention of veteran employees.
- Provision of compensation, to employees serving on active duty in the United States National Guard or Reserve, that is sufficient, in combination with the employee’s active duty pay, to achieve a combined level of income commensurate with the employee’s salary prior to undertaking active duty.
- Provision of a tuition assistance program to support veteran employees’ attendance in postsecondary education during the term of their employment; and
- Employer with an adverse labor law decision, stipulated agreement, contract debarment, or contract termination, as defined in the rule, pursuant to either of the following labor laws will not be eligible to receive an award: Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA); or Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA).
Most awards do not require the employer-applicant to satisfy all of the above criteria.
The Act requires the Secretary to establish a fee sufficient to cover the costs associated with carrying out the HIRE Vets Medallion Program. Application fees are:
1. Small Employer—$90
2. Medium Employer—$190
3. Large Employer—$495
Over 1,650 employers have earned a HIRE Vets Medallion Award, and they are highlighted at https://www.hirevets.gov/about
YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE
Monthly Newsletters from Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs for News, Veteran Events and Opportunities in NJ and PA
In PA see: https://maestro.pa.gov/list/k3hdw2n4/230302C/8z6u9k2ia3mw.vib?test&a0=903
In NJ see: https://dmava.org/
Join the adult career education topics and networking in May 2024 at the Great Careers Groups (GCG) whether you are unemployed, self-employed, or employed. Visit the EVENTS page for registration info. Connect on social media and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
- Wed May 1 – Your Authentic Brand Voice with ChatGPT
- Thu May 2 – Nonprofit Seminar: LinkedIn for Nonprofits
- Thur May 2 – deadline to register for Sat May 4 Jump Start your Job Search
- Wed May 8 – Valid or Void: Identifying Illegitimate Job Postings
- Thu May 9 – Virtual Jobseeker Support Group
- Mon May 13 – Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking
- Tues May 14 – LGBTQ+ OUTstanding Careers Group™
- Wed May 15 – How to Gain Customers with a LinkedIn Company Page Lunch & Learn (in person Paoli)
- Wed May 15 – Deep Dive: Using AI to Improve Your Resume and Cover Letter
- Thu May 16 – Recruiter on Call with Jobs LinkedIn Audio
- Thu May 16 – How to Spot a Good Hiring Manager (Future Boss)
- Mon May 20 – Decoding Company Culture: A Guide for Job Seekers
- Tue May 21 – Lehigh Valley Business Executives Networking Group (BENG)
- Wed May 22 – Interview Techniques
- Thu May 23 – Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking
- Sat May 25 – Tips to Optimize Your Resume
- Tue May 28 – Business Executives Networking Group (BENG) & Guests
For unemployed veterans who want to attend for free, contact Lynne Williams in advance director@greatcareersphl.org.
VA Updates
VA health care travels with you Are you traveling?
VA has resources across the states to provide you with easily accessible information about telehealth options, the closest VA location, and the Veterans Crisis Line.